Samuel e



(No Model.) I 2 SheetsSheet 1. S. E. SMITH.

POTATO BIGGER, No. 389,704. Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

wwdw, v

Ssmmfifi (WWI Y v r jaw/0 5mm wxwmm W,

N. FETERS PMa-ulhcmphnr. wnmugm. ac.

llnirnn Srarns SAMUEL SMITH, OF DAVENPORT, IOW'A, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALFTO FRANK H. GRIG-GS AXD JOHN W. GREEN, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

POTATO-BIGGER.

Application filed June 18, 1885. Serial No. 169,062.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of Davenport, in the county of Scott and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PotatoDiggers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved construction whereby the potatoes ofa row are excavated and lifted, the dirt surrounding the same beingpassed downward through open bars automatically agitated, whilethepotatoes are carried to the rear free from dirt and discharged fromthe machine.

My invention consists in a geared mechanism so connected with apotato-digger as to impart an intermittent action. whereby a se ries ofbars suitably suspended or hinged are caused to have a side motionSlllflClElltto separate the dirt from the potatoes, causing the dirt toescape between said bars and the potatoes to be discharged at the rear.

It also further consists in a mechanism for excavating all of thepotatoes of a row, consisting of two landsides forwardly connected by apointed horizontal blade, which passes un der the potatoes, togetherwith a central perpendicular standard or colter, which extends from saidblade rearwardly up tothe supporting-beam above, and acts to break upthe earth and to centrally separate the earth and the potatoes, so as todischarge the same on each side upon the framework of bars at the rearin a condition which admits of a ready separation of the earth from thepotatoes.

It also consists, further, in a peculiar swivelhinged or socketjointedconnection between the forward and rear mechanisms of the digger, whichpermits or the turning of the rear portion upside down when the diggeris not in use, and when it is desired to convey the same from one pointto another, the handles forming supports or runners for the rear portionwhen thus reversed.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure l is a perspective view of my improved potato-digging device.Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several views.

PECIFZGATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 339.704, dated April 131886.

(No model.)

A indicates the main beam of the digger.

B and G are the side handles, which are connected together by the bar a,such as is customarily used between the handles of an ordinary plow.

E indicates the forward extension of the beam A, which extension issupported upon the frame F, resting upon an axle, 72-, carried by thewheels is k.

H H indicate the landsides of the digger, which are connected by theforward horizontal cutter-point K.

L indicates the inclined central standard or colter, which extendsupward and rearward from the cutterpoint K to the main beam A, whichstandard acts to disintegrate and separate the earth which has beenexcavated by the cutter-point K, and carried backward between thelandsides H H.

M indicates a screen composed of the bars m m, upon which the earth andpotatoes pass after being excavated. As will be seen, these bars arehinged at their forward ends upon the rod 0, passing between thelandsides HH, while at the rear ends they are loosely connected by loopswith a horizontal bar, cl, which is supported by hinged standards e etcthe handles B and O. Thepurpose or object of having these standardshinged in the manner shown, and of having the bars in m looselyconnected at their forward ends, is to admit of a side motion of thescreen M.

N indicates a supporting runner, upon which rests the entire weightofthe rear portion of the digger, said runner being connected at itsforward end with the cutter-point passing between thelandsides, and atits rear end being supported by bars 0 0, connecting on both sides withthe handles B and C of the digger. Upon forward axle, h, is placed wheelZ, suitably geared, or provided with cogs at its outer periphery, whichmesh into a geared hub, 12., upon shaft 12,, having thereon crank o. Theforward beam, E, is slotted, so as to admit of the passing through thesame of upright lever 0, which works upon pivot b as a fulcrum, and isconnected with crank 22. The upright lever 0 is shown as slotted at thelower end, for the purpose of admitting of a free motion of the crank ingiving a backward and forward action to said lever. This construction ofthe upright lever 0 may be varied, however, if desired, provided onlythat the crank.

is so connected therewith as to give afree backward and forward motionto the lever, and instead of having the forward extension, E, of thebeam slotted in the manner shown, the lever 0 may be hinged to one sideof said beam in any suitable manner, if preferred, so as to have therequired freedom of action.

1 indicates a rod passing from upright lever 0, and extending rearwardlyto the arm at, which is pivoted to plate a, secured to the main beam ofthe digger by pivot d, which pivot constitutes a fulcrum, upon whichfulcrum said arm 00 turns, The rear end of this arm a; is provided withteeth or cogs, which mesh into corresponding cogs on lever 00, which islikewise pivoted to plate 22 upon the main beam by a pivot, of, whichpivot acts as a fulcrum, upon which the lever at has a side motion. Thislever 00 is bent so as to extend downward to the screen M, with whichthe lower end of said lever is connected by any suitable means. As willbe seen, the rear end of the main beam, A, is further held in positionand connected by a cross-bar extending between the handles B and O, andalso that side braces are shown as extending from the main beam, A, tothe handles B and 0.

While it is essential that the main beam shall be suitably connected andsupported with the other parts so as to afford a constructionsufficiently strong and durable, it is not nec essary that the braces orconnecting-bars shown should be in the precise position represented inthe drawings, or that the same should be of the form indicated, asvariations may be made in these respects.

z indicates a swivel-bar, whichconnects the main beam A with the forwardsection, E, which swivel-bar passes through openings in plates, saidswivclbar being so enlarged or headed at both ends as to connect theextensiou E with the main beam A, and to permit of the turning of themain beam upon said swivel bar or axis, when desired.

The operation of my improved construction is as follows: The turning ofthe forward axle causes the gearing connected therewith to turn thecrank-shaft a, which imparts to th*. upright lever 0 the desired forwardand back ward motion.

cured to the main beam, which lever, through its forward and backwardaction,permits a side motion to the bent arm or lever .22, so geared asto mesh therewith, uhich bent lever, being connected with the bed orscreen M, causes said frame to oscillate upon the hinged adj ustablesupports 0 w, by means of which the same is connected with the handles,said oscillation being niadepossiblc by the free-jointed connection ofthe bars at m at their forward ends. As my improved digger is drawnforward, it passes under a row of potatoes, the landsides beingsuliiciently distant from each other to pass entirely without the hills,and as theearth and potatoes are lifted or excavated by the forwardhorizontal point, K, they are carried rearward until separated by thestandard or colter L. \Vhen the broken earth and the potatoes reach thefra uie-work of screen M, the oscillation or side motion of said screen,through the action of the mechanism described, causes the earth to passdownward between the bars, and the potatoes,not being able to passbetween the same, are carried back and are discharged when they reachthe rear ends of the bars.

I am aware that various attempts have been made to constructpotato-diggers which were capable of successful use; but as far as myexperience extends no construction of digger has been invented or usedwhich has been capable of effectively separating the earth fromthepotatoes, and which has not in its operation again covered with earthmany of the potatoes aft-er excavating the same.

The practical operation of the construction which I have shown anddescribed is rapid, even where the groundis compact, the form oflandsides, horizontal point, and central colter being such as to readilyexcavate and carry to the rear an entire row of potatoes, while theoscillating motion of the bed or screen upon which the potatoes andearth pass is such as to readily separate the one from the other, andthe potatoes are discharged at a point where it is not possible for themto again become covered with earth.

A further advantage to be found in my construction is, that thepotatoes, when thus discharged at the rear, are droppediu a straightrow, and near together, not being scattered, as is the case with diggersof other form of construction, so that they are trampled upon when theadjacent row is being dug. The fact that the potatoes are thus droppedtogether results in a considerable saving of labor in picking up thesame.

The mechanism which I have shown for causing the desired side motion ofthe screen from the potatoes, is simple, inexpensive, and not liable toget out of order.

The connection with the forward beam extension, by means of aswivel-joint, is a feature of my construction which possessesconsiderable importance, as it admits of the con- This motion isimparted to the lever connecting with the geared arm w, se-

venient transportation of my improved digger from one place to anotherwithout incurring any liability of breaking or injuring the same, as itis only necessary to turn the rear portion of the digger upside downupon said swivel- IIO or bed. for the purpose of separating the earth Ejoint and it will rest upon the curved part of when not in use, acoupling is used upon the forward main shaft, which permits of the readysidewise connection and disconnection of the geared wheel upon said mainshaft. When it is desired to stop the motion of said gearing this wheelis uncoupled from the said shaft, and again restored to its normalposition when it is desired to operate the digger. This coupling beingthe usual form of toothed clutch, as shown between gear-wheel Z andshaft h, Fig. 1, requires no furtherdescription. Mechanism for shiftingthe clutch is not shown, as any of the forms usually employed may beapplied thereto.

There is a further advantage in having the forward section of the mainbeam hinged in the manner described at its point of rearward connection,as by the use of an adjustable clevis-snch as shown in the drawings-theline of draft can be so regulated as to either raise or lower theforward end of the main beam at the point of said hinged connection,which raising or lowering of said main beam has the effect of raising orlowering to a corresponding dcgrcethe cutter-point and landsidesconnected therewith, thus regulating the depth of excavation. This isessential, as in certain kinds of soil potatoes grow to a greater depththan in heavy s0il,anditis desirable not to exer cise the power requiredfor excavating to a greater depth than is necessary to reach all of thepotatoes. It is further desirable to have i the supports e e of thescreen )1 adj uslable by means of screws, such as shown, as in passinguphill or downhill it is of importance tobe able to so regulate saidframe by raising or lowering the same that the plane or elevation willbe such at all times as will permit the potatoes to pass freely to therear.

Relative to the material to be employed for the parts which I havedescribed, I deem it sufficient to say that the cutter-point, landsides, and colter-standard are preferably made of steel, while theaxles, geared wheels, connecting-rods, levers, and frame-work. uponwhich the potatoes and earth pass after being excavated, are preferablymade of iron or other metal snitableforthe required use,while otherpartssuch as are represented in the drawings as being constructed ofwoodmay be either made of wood or any other material possessingthemecessary qualities of strength and durability.

If desired, the central colter standard (shown as passing upward andrearward from the horizontal cutterpoint to the main beam) may bedispensed with, and the cutter-point so connected with the landsides asto have side supports extending from the main beam to said landsidesused instead of such colterstandard. I prefer, however, to use theconstruction which I have shown; but the change indicated may be madewithout departing from the scope of my invention.

My improved construction operates in the saving of a great amount oflabor, as the ramanner in which the work is done by it admits of thedigging of a very large quantity of potatoes within a limited space oftime.

My construction is comparatively inexpensive, when the amount of workwhich it will do is taken into consideration.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a potato digger, the combination ofa main beam made in two parts,and connected by a swivel joint with a frame for supporting the forwardpart of said beam pivotally mounted upon a truck, and an adjustableclevis, by means of which the point of application of the draft-powermay be vertically varied, as desired, on the front end of said forwardpart, substantially as described and shown.

2. In a potato-digger, the combination, with a main beam made in twoparts, of a swiveljoint connecting the parts, and a truck supporting theforward part, substantially as described, and for the purposes setforth.

3. The combination, in a potato-digger, of a main beam in two partsconnected by aswiveljoint, with curved handles projecting above the rearpart of the beam, and serving as runners when the digger is reversed.

4. In a potato digger, the combination of amain beam formed in two partsconnected by a swivel-joint with a wheel-mounted support for the forwardpart, a screen connected with the rear portion of the digger forreceiving the potatoes, and mechanism, also made in two parts connectedby a swivel-joint, for communicating motion from the wheels of the saidsupport to the said screen, substantially as described and shown.

5. The combination, in a potatodigger, of the beam A, cutter-point K,the inwardly-inclined landsides H H, the handles B G, attached both tothe end of the beam and the landsides, the central standard, L,connecting the cuttenpoint with the beam, the runner N, rigidly attachedby its rear end to the handles and at its front end to the cutterpoint,and the open screen M, substantially as described and shown.

6. The combination, with the main beam of a potatodigger, of the axle h,the wheel I, the geared hub in, the shaft n, the crank o, the uprightlever 0, the rod 9*, levers a; and a, the screen M, and the flexible andadjustable supports 6 e, substantially as described and shown.

7. The combination, in a potato-digger, of

a truck carrying the forward end of the main beam, a rod passing to therear part of the frame, mechanism connecting the shaft of said truckwith said rod, and giving a forward and back reciprocating movementthereto, a pivoted lever connected with the rear end of said rod, asecond pivoted lever geared with said i first lever, and a screenconnected with said second lever and receiving motion therefrom,

pidity with which it works and the effective substantially as describedand shown.

8. In a potato-digger, the combination of a the rear part of the diggeris inverted, the viforward truck, a screen for receiving the pobrntionof the screen may be suspended, subtntoes, mechanism provided with aswivelstantialiy as described and shown. joint connecting a rotary portof the truck I SAMUEL E. SMITH.

;, with the screen and imparting motion thereto, and a clutch betweensaid mechanism and said rotary pzut of the truck, whereby, whenW'itnesses:

FREDERICK C. GooDWIN, E. L. HUBER.

